The 18-day long Champions Trophy treated us with some top notch performances, both from the willow and the cherry. Prior to the start of the tournament, a lot was being said regarding the batting friendly pitches in England and Wales.
Everyone expected the tourney to be a run-fest, however, the bowlers were having none of it and made their presence felt, to such an extent that Hasan Ali was named the Player of the Tournament. The cricket fans witnessed some of the most lethal bowling spells in recent history which changed the course of several matches.
Here we list down the top five bowling performances in the tournament.
#5 Josh Hazlewood vs New Zealand
Though Josh Hazlewood returned with the best figures of the tournament in this particular match, the fact that it ended without any result forced our hands into putting this performance at number five.
After cleaning Martin Guptill out early on, Hazlewood returned to wreak havoc in his third spell. He bagged five of New Zealand’s last six wickets, including the likes of Broom and Neesham and helped restrict the Kiwis from 254/3 to 291 all out.
The 26-year-old returned with figures of 9-0-52-6.
#4 Imran Tahir vs Sri Lanka
The Lankans got off to a good start to their innings (116-2 in 17.1 overs) and were going at a healthy rate chasing 299 for victory against the Proteas. However things took a sharp turn then as AB de Villiers caught Chandimal short of the crease with a direct hit.
Tahir sensed the opportunity to run through the Mathews-less Sri Lankan middle order and that’s what he did exactly. He first trapped Kapugedera in front of the wicket then removed Tharanga in his next spell. Gunaratne and Pradeep were his final two victims, while he ran Lakmal out as well.
His figures from the match, 8.3-0-27-4.
#3 Mark Wood vs Australia
By the time these two perennial rivals met in the group stage, England had already bulldozed their way into the semis, while Australia’s hopes were hanging by a thread, courtesy the ‘English Summer’. Needing a win to qualify, the Kangaroos were sent in to bat first by Eoin Morgan.
Wood, along with Jake Ball, started with the new ball and the Ashington-born pacer struck in his fourth over as vice-captain David Warner edged one to Buttler. Steve Smith steadied the ship for Aussies and scored a well-deserved half century before Wood came back in his second spell to strike again.
The 27-year-old right arm fast bowler accounted for the wickets of Smith, Maxwell and Zampa and returned with figures of 10-1-33-4, playing a huge part in his team’s victory.
#2 Hasan Ali vs South Africa
Fresh from a 124-run thumping at the hands of India in the opener, Pakistan came into the match knowing another defeat will see their dream of winning the CT die. After winning the toss, South Africa decided to bat first but were jolted by Imad Wasim’s dual blow to send Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers back.
Having lost Hashim Amla early on as well, the Proteas needed Faf du Plessis to step up and take the team to a respectable total. However, Hasan Ali had other ideas. Du Plessis played a widish delivery down on his own wickets and Duminy followed after handing Babar Azam an easy catch, both on Hasan’s bowling.
Parnell walked out, only to be humiliated by a peach of a delivery from the 23-year-old, which straightened up after pitching and took the left-hander’s off stump along. Hasan was named the Man of The Match and rightfully so as he rattled South Africa’s middle order and returned with figures of 8-1-24-3.
#1 Mohammad Amir vs India (Final)
The explosive left-arm fast bowler saved his best for the very last and probably the biggest match of his limited over’s career. With 338 on the board, Pakistan were hoping for a couple of early wickets to restrict India’s advancements.
Amir, with the wickets of the ‘Big Three’ in sight, bowled the first over with Rohit Sharma taking the strike. After bowling two outswingers, Amir swung one into Rohit and umpire adjudged the MI captain leg before.
One down, two to go!
The 25-year-old’s next victim was the biggest fish of them all, Virat Kohli and he got the batsman out almost twice in two deliveries. Azhar Ali dropped a sitter in the slips but Shadab Khan held on to a leading edge from Kohli and Pakistan were suddenly on top of the world.
Last, but certainly not the last in these ICC tournaments, Shikhar Dhawan. The left-hander tried and stitch a small partnership with Yuvraj Singh to level up the situation. But Amir was having none of it. A cross-seamed delivery purchased extra bounce from the wicket, found the outside edge of Dhawan’s bat and went straight into Sarfraz’s gloves.
Amir returned with figures of 6-2-16-3.
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